Saints pick Fortt, Sunseri, Powell, Rooks in NFL draft

In the fourth round, the Saints added depth at outside linebackerby taking Khairi Fortt from California.

In the fifth round, the Saints helped their secondary by selected Alabama safety Vinnie Sunseri at No. 167 and Florida linebacker Ronald Powell at 169.

In the sixth round, the Saints added to their offensive line depth with the selection of tackle Tavon Rooks from Kansas State.

Fortt (6-foot-2, 248 pounds) played only one season at Cal after transferring from Penn State following Jerry Sandusky scandal in 2011. He missed the 2012 season with a knee injury, which had actually originated when he was a ninth grader, and played in only nine games last year after suffering a torn biceps.

Fortt actually had another year of eligibility remaining, but decided to go forego his senior season after the Bears went 1-11 in 2013 and were seen as being in a severe rebuilding mode.

It had nothing to do with coaching,” Fortt said during the Combine of his decision to leave. “I just thought for me and my body, I just felt like I could take my talents to the next level and that I have the capability to do it. If I just put my mind to it and just focus more I’ll be successful.”

Fortt is considered a good speed linebacker with a long, muscular frame who has shown some pass-rush ability. However, his tackling form has limited his productivity.

The last linebacker from Cal to play for the Saints was Scott Fujita.

With Sunseri it was the case of the Saints losing one safety from Alabama during the offseason, but picking up another.

Sunseri has a chance to replace Roman Harper, who left the Saints in free agency.

An early entry, Sunseri (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) is the son of former LSU assistant Sal Sunseri, now with Florida State.

Sunseri tore his anterior cruciate knee ligament in Alabama's 52-0 victory against Arkansas in the Tide's seventh game last season.

Powell (6-foot-3, 237) was rated the nation’s top prospect at any position coming out of Rancho Verde (California) High School.

But he battled injuries during much of his time with the Gators.

Like Sunseri, Powell is an early entry.

Rooks (6-5, 280) was a two-year starter for the Wildcats after transferring form Navarro (Texas) Junior College in his home town of Corsicana, Texas.